Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-06-24
WITH a PANTHER.

"When | was lad OF TO-" says Sila!
Smith, an old pioneer of Wisconsin
"my father removed and settled to thi:
State from New England and settled
about three miles from Madison. The
place was village then, and small
one at that, and | remember seeing
deer running down the main street with
dozen dogs after him. The road from
the village to our clearing was little bet.
ter than a path. There were only two
farmers having oxen and wagons, ant
so there was little use for roads. Jus,
at the edge of the woods outside the vii
lage was log barn belonging to a store.
keeper named Roberts. That was the
last building We passed going home,
and the first one come to as we entered
the village clearing. From that stable
to my fathers house, three miles, there
was only one break in tie forest, and
that was on a ten-acre clearing.
"After having passed over the route
several times with my father, | was per.
mitted to travel it alone whenever any
thing was wanted from the town. After
a time could have almost followed the
trail with my eyes shut, and | had no
fear Of the wolves and par theirs | heard
talked about, because | WAS told that no
wild beast ever attacked people by day
light. 1t was one of the first days of
October that, as / was about half way
through the woods on an errand to the
village, and the time being midfore-
noon, a panther sprang from the limbs
of large beech under which Was pass
ing, and alighted upon the ground besiGe
me. There was not even a growl to
warn me of his presence, and he drop
ped down beside me as softly as cat
and as good natured as rabbit. l had
never heard panther described, and,
while | suspected this was one, was
not sure. He jumped into the path
ahead of me and began to zigzag back
and forth across it, purring all the time
like cat, and seeming to be highly
pleased when my legs rubbed against
him.
GOOD NATuRED "CAT."
81 was bit frightened at first, but
after few minutes | made up my mind
that it was some animal which would
not hurt me, and then we had a romp-
ing time. | would clap my hands and
shout Sick 'em y and the panther would
go skurrying here and there like young
pup, sometimes rolling over and over on
the leaves, and again making such leaps
and bounds as excited my admiration.
When we came to level piece of ground
l ran a race with him. and when he got
into the patch ahead Of me seized the
tip of his tail and hung on and laughed
until the woods rang. On two or three
occasions, as the panther was gam5oling
about me, he made a clean spring right
over my head.
at was only when we reached the
edge of the village clearing that sus-
pected the identity of my visitor. The
near presence of other human beings
seemed to anger him, and he snarled and
growled and tore at the ground with his
claws. parted him on the back and
smoothed his fur, and he began purring
again and was restored TO good nature.
He trotted alongside of me about half
way to the barn have mentioned, and
then slipped away into some fallen TIM
ber. l haG been quite badly frightened
for some minutes, and now seized this
chance to make off. My movements
were hastened by an ominous growing
from the timber, and / walked off at a
fast pace, and was within few steps
when heard fierce scream and turned
my head and saw the great cut bound
ing toward me. The door OF the barn
was partly open, and without an in
stants reflection / sprang insi le and
closed it. Before could have counted
twenty the panther was at hand. Luck
lily for me it was strong, rough door.
made of slabs and well put together.
The beast made terrific efforts 10 get in,
and his sharp claws mace the splinters
fly as he set them into the wood. There
was no inside fastening, and had to
brace with all my might to prevent hi:
ingress. He was now worked up into q
fury, and believe every hair of my
head stood on end as / fought to keep
him out.
THROUGH THg ROOF.
"When the panther found that he
could not get in by the door he sprang
upon the roof. heard him as he alight-
ed on the shocks, and, facing about.
saw there was a square hole in the roof
left for a chimney never built. There
was noihing to prevent him Ieaping
down, aud this is just what he intended
doiu1. | saw his shadow as he peeret